Adventures beyond the Safari vehicle.

I know, the main purpose of going on a Safari is to enjoy wildlife from your safety and comfort of your Safari Vehicle. Done! We got you! But, there are other adventures we can add that will give you a different perspective … and these can be so much fun.

1. Walking Safaris
Walking safaris offer an immersive and exhilarating way to experience the African wilderness up close. Unlike being in a Safari vehicle, a walking Safari brings you into direct contact with the sights, sounds, and smells of the bush. Guided by experienced trackers, you’ll learn about tracking techniques, the behavior of various wildlife, and the intricate ecosystems. It’s a chance to see the smaller wonders of the bush, from insects to plants, that are often overlooked in traditional Safaris.

Ideal for: Wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and those seeking a deeper connection with nature. We can add this in almost every country.

On the Ngorongoro Highlands, Tanzania via Entamanu Ngorongoro.

2. Gorilla and Chimp Trekking Experience
Yes, coming face-to-face with endangered gorillas in either Rwanda, Uganda, or Congo’s rainforest is possible – an experience many aptly describe as ‘life-changing’. The same goest with chimps in those areas as well as Mahale Mountains in Tanzania. Watching these human like animals in the wild and observing their movements, relationships, and daily routines is an intimate and profound experience. You’ll learn about their behaviors, their importance in the ecosystem, and the efforts currently underway to protect them. Be ready for long hikes, sometimes through difficult terrains but if you can do this, the rewards are tremendous.

Ideal for: Nature lovers, adventure seekers, and anyone passionate about conservation.

Mahale Mountains, Tanzania for the chimps from Greystoke Mahale.

3. Hot Air Balloon Safaris
Ready for a new perspective on Africa? Take to the skies on a hot air balloon Safari! Watching the world awaken from up high is pretty special – you can see animals beginning their day and the vast wilderness stretching out as far as the eye can see. Plus, as exhilarating as this experience is, it’s also super peaceful up there. The cherry on top? Landing for a laid-back breakfast in the bush, maybe even with a bit of bubbly or a mimosa to toast your adventure (why not? You’re on vacation!).

Ideal for: Anyone looking for a Safari with a twist and photography fanatics. Really, anyone.

Our entertaining Serengeti Balloon Safari Captain Mohammed. Serengeti, Tanzania.

4. Star Gazing in the Wilderness
Ever gazed up at a sky so clear you feel like you could touch the stars? That’s what stargazing and star bathing in the African wilderness is all about. You’ll learn cool stuff about constellations, maybe hear some local myths about the night sky, and, if you’re lucky, spot a shooting star or two. So many of my places-to-stay partners know how to make this experience extra special – think sleeping on the deck of a treehouse, removable roofing in your tented suite, or even spending the evening in a stargazing dome.

Ideal for: Night owls, space enthusiasts, and the romantics.

Olmara Camp, Serengeti, Tanzania

5. Dhow & Mokoro Safaris
Think of a mokoro Safari as the ultimate way to explore the Okavango Delta’s winding waterways and Dhow Safaris as a fantastic way to explore the beautiful islands of Zanzibar. You might spot elephants taking a dip, hippos lounging in the shallows, or birds flitting through the reeds. It’s like watching a nature documentary unfold, but way cooler because you’re actually there. And the best part? The tranquillity. It’s just you and your guide, the dhow, and nature. No engines, no crowds, and no distractions.

Ideal for: Nature buffs and anyone looking for a relaxing adventure.

Okavango Delta, Botswana.

So, there you have it – a sneak peek into some of Africa’s most unique adventures. I can’t wait to help you discover these hidden gems!

Feeling the call of the wild? Ready to swap the everyday for the extraordinary?
Let’s chat! I’m super excited to design your Safari beyond the Safari vehicle, tailored just for you. Whether you’re exploring solo, a family on an epic adventure, or a group of friends seeking new horizons, I’m here to make it happen.

Unique Experiences to add to your Safari in Tanzania and Kenya

All Safaris are unique. Nothing quite like being on Safari in my personal opinion.

However, sometimes, we find that we are adding a few experiences that just take your Safari to the next level. Some of our favorite Safari experiences to consider when deciding on your Safari. These are experiences that enrich the soul and give your Safari even more excitement.

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Chimpanzee Trekking in the Mahale Mountains, Western Tanzania

A jungle Safari, on the shores of the tropical lake shores of Lake Tanganyika, to see some the world’s largest protected population of Eastern Chimps.

The Mahale Mountains, home to approx. 800 Chimpanzees. Only one group of about 60, the “M Group” is semi-habituated to humans, so they are the ones that are visited.

The Mahale Mountains National Park lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania’s Kigoma region. Your base will be Greystoke Mahale, an exclusive, award-winning camp that is truly one of the most beautifully simple, and luxuriously castaway places to stay on the planet. Your days will be spent Chimpanzee trekking with some of the most experienced guides and trackers in the world who know every Chimp’s personality and characteristics. Some days it will only take a couple of hours to find the group, and other times you can spend the whole day trekking the forrest. This is part of the charm of real tracking. If the Chimpanzees haven’t already blown you away, your base at Greystoke Mahale certainly will. This little Camp set right on a sandy beach overlooking the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, with the Mahale Mountains as a backdrop is truly one of the most unique, stunning locations on the continent. Time spent at Greystoke isn’t just Chimp Trekking, although that is the main attraction. Spend the rest of your days lazing on the beach, snorkeling in the tropical lake waters, kayaking, and enjoying the shabby-chic luxury of Greystoke.

The main area of Nomad’s Greysoke Mahale. An exclusive, hidden gem in the remote Mahale Mountains.

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Walking with the Hadza Tribe, Northern Tanzania

This is one of my favourite, and accessible Safari experiences that you can do on a Tanzania Safari. The Hadzabe, or Hadza People are Tanzania’s last Hunter Gatherer Tribe, and some of the most incredible people on the planet. Walking with the Hadza is a must on any trip to Tanzania.

The Hadza or the Hadzabe people are one of the last Hunter-Gatherer tribes in Africa that still largely keep to their traditional way of life. They live around the Lake Eyasi region of Tanzania and their way of life is truly remarkable. Unlike other tribes in Tanzania and Sub-Saharan Africa, they have no livestock and they don’t grow their own food. They thrive by hunting with bows and arrows and foraging for plants and berries. There are only around 1200 of the Hadza tribe left in the world, so to walk and learn from them is a truly remarkable experience. We all have a lot to learn from their way of life, their connection to their surroundings and the way they view the earth. There is a great article on the how the Hadza are some of the healthiest people in the world here.

I try to make time to walk and talk to the Hadza, it is truly one of the best experiences you can get from your Tanzania Safari and where you will learn about a simple world.

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Go on a Night Game Drive

The best time to see all the predators of the night and the action that is usually missed whilst your asleep!

Heading on a night game drive is one of the best wildlife experiences you can have in Africa. After dark is when predators do the majority of their hunting so you can expect to see Lions out on the hunt for unsuspecting herds of Impala, or a Leopard stalking its next prey. At night, the wilderness is filled with nocturnal creatures and this is when a lot of action takes place. There is something exhilarating about being out in the wild in the dark in your Safari car, you can’t see far but you can hear rustling in the bushes, and pairs of eyes.

My favourite places to head out on a night game drive are in the Tarangire in Northern Serengeti, Ruaha and Katavi in Southern Serengeti, Mara North Conservancy, and Borana or Lewa Conservancy besides other areas. South Africa, and Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe also offer many night game drive opportunities as a lot of the lodges are in private areas.

You never know what you will see around the corner.

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Go on a Walking Safari

This can be easily incorporated into your Safari and most of the Camps and Lodges I use will have the option to head out on foot with a experienced guide and ranger. This is the best way to explore your surroundings and truly feel part of the wilderness.

My favorite walking Safaris I have been on are in the Ngorongoro Crater from Entamanu Lodge. With your Masai guide, you will walk down the crater escarpment towards the Serengeti plains and be met by a Safari car at the end of your walk that will have a picnic breakfast ready for you. It’s also a great way to keep active and fit on Safari!

The kids enjoying their walking Safari and learning about every detail of their surroundings. The best playground!

If you want to go on a full walking Safari where you walk everyday between Camps and walking is your only mode of transport through the wild, then heading to Zambia is best. The Luwanga Valley is known as the “home of the walking Safari” with some of the best guides and trackers in the industry. However, Northern Kenya is also a great contender. The private and community run conservancies in the rugged North make it a great area to explore on foot with the a Samburu warrior to guide you. Have a look at the Best Places to Stay in Northern Kenya with your family.

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The Migration’s Birthing Season, Southern Serengeti Plains

The Migration is famous for its River Crossings between July and October, but my favorite and most underrated part of the migration cycle is the Calving season at the beginning of the year.

Birthing Season is really incredible!

I have mentioned before how February is one of my favorite time to visit the Serengeti. This is because of the wildebeest calving season that takes over the Southern Serengeti plains and Ndutu region. You will see millions of wildebeest giving birth to new life, and with this, the various dangers that come with the vulnerability of young calves and their weak mothers. It is a remarkable time of year to see big cats and other predators, whilst the lush green plains are a beautiful backdrop for your safari. It’s a time of new life, and new cycles and it really immerses you in the delicate balance of the Serengeti and Masai Mara eco-system. Visiting the Southern Serengeti at this time of year also means much lower visitor numbers, which will make your Safari even more special. There is a whole other blog post that goes into detail on the Top 3 Reasons to Visit the Serengeti in Green Season, which includes birthing season.

"I can't say enough good things about Mahale."

Journey To Africa guest Rebecca Rawalt sharing her chimp trekking experience from Greystoke Mahale, an amazing Safari lodge run by our friends Nomad Tanzania. I can totally relate as this is also one of my favorite adventures in Tanzania.

“I can’t say enough good things about Mahale.  This place is perfect.  The setting is amazing, the staff were incredible, the food was my favorite of the trip.  I can not believe how hard the staff worked to make sure we had a good time.  The first day, the trackers were out all day and even though there were no chimps, Jillian [camp manager at that time] took us snorkeling in the lake and then the guide took us on a guided walk where we saw a bunch of monkeys.  The guides here were incredible. They were so much fun to be around and clearly knew so much about the area.  The second day the chimps were found and I think the staff was as excited as we were.  They worked so hard to make sure everyone had a good viewing experience.  The main groups were really far up the mountain.  One of the guides went out and worked with the trackers and they found a family of 3!  The chimps initially didn’t cooperate, only staying with us 10 minutes before going off into the swamp.  The trackers stayed with them while they kept us comfortable.  When we started talking about being hungry one of the staff heard us and ran back and made us all sandwiches.  We were all amazed when sandwiches appeared!  The chimps came back out - it was a really great experience.  The trackers came back covered in mud on every available surface and with their clothes torn to shreds.  It was amazing how hard they worked to give us a good experience.  “

Thank you Rebecca for echoing our feelings.
Don’t wait! This place is pure magic and you will never get the experience out of your mind.

Let’s chat chimps and Greystoke Mahale.

Trekking Tips for Mahale Mountains from Greystoke.

I have rubbed shoulders with chimps. Yup, I rubbing shoulders with no other than a male chimp called Christmas, who lightly whacked me with a twig [no harm was done] - what an unforgettable present. 

To successfully hike the mountains, I have some tips for you [in no particular order] especially for amateur hikers like me. Tips collected from personal experience and collected from other experienced hikers. Rain and sleek or dry, these should come in handy. 

// Wicking clothing.
It is hot and humid in the mountains. Having moisture-wicking clothing was more comfortable but on the day I did not wear that fabric, I was drenched. Not a deal killer for me but if you are sensitive to sweating, definitely look into moisture-wicking clothing - you can use it for your Safari as well. 

// Raincoat. 
Greystoke Mahale provides a poncho but for a smaller person like me, I found myself tripping on the way up and down the mountain. Having my own rain jacket would have been more comfortable. I do have to say that the poncho did cover my camera packed back-pack when it was raining hard so if you do take a raincoat, see if it will cover you and your back-pack. Or stick with the poncho.

// Gaiters.
When Sally said she was getting this, I was not 100% convinced I should get the gaiters but I am glad I did. It kept my socks very dry. Which leads me to then next must item ...

// Waterproof hiking shoes  - if you can.
I had Columbia Peakfreak hiking shoes and I could not have been more comfortable. They gave me traction, kept my feet dry and kept me blister free. I wore mine with Smart Wool socks. Happy hiker here.

// Camera solution.
A fellow trekker could not use his lens because of moisture. Make sure you have a water proof protection / backpack for your camera on the climb - he had it around his neck, and making sure you have a good seal for your lens + camera. Have a back-up as well if you can. 

Another personal note - I lost my lens cap on the mountains and some chimp is playing with that. In the fluster of climbing up fast, setting up the camera quickly, etc., I dropped my lens cap and realized too late. Note to self - secure your lens cap with a cord. 

// Camera Tip.
Learn your camera. Have it set for the quick shooting in low light and definitely know your settings if you are planning on using manual. The camp manager and guides like Butati at the camp were helpful with suggestions. It is dark, humid, and the chimps can be 5 ft. away to 50 ft. so what type of lens to carry is the million dollar question.  I had my 70-300 mm lens and used my iPhone for the close-ups.

// Other trekking notes.
- Energy bars and sweet bananas were provided by Greystoke Mahale - they really helped with giving the group a nice boost on the trek.
- Bring extra cash. There were other people besides our guides who took care of us like the trekkers who start early to find the chimps and Tanzanian government rangers.
- Self care items like for blisters, scratches from the forest, balm for the hard trek. 

Anything else we can add to these tips?
Besides these few tips, do make sure you are fit to make this trek. It can be long and steep up the mountain, and you truly want to enjoy the whole experience.

And let me tell you, it has been one of the best experiences of my life!